Senior Research Associate

Syneos Health® is a leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization built to accelerate customer success. We translate unique clinical, medical affairs and commercial insights into outcomes to address modern market realities.  

Our Clinical Development model brings the customer and the patient to the center of everything that we do. We are continuously looking for ways to simplify and streamline our work to not only make Syneos Health easier to work with, but to make us easier to work for.

Whether you join us in a Functional Service Provider partnership or a Full-Service environment, you’ll collaborate with passionate problem solvers, innovating as a team to help our customers achieve their goals. We are agile and driven to accelerate the delivery of therapies, because we are passionate to change lives.

Discover what our 29,000 employees, across 110 countries already know: 

WORK HERE MATTERS EVERYWHERE

Why Syneos Health

• We are passionate about developing our people, through career development and progression; supportive and engaged line management; technical and therapeutic area training; peer recognition and total rewards program.
• We are committed to our Total Self culture – where you can authentically be yourself. Our Total Self culture is what unites us globally, and we are dedicated to taking care of our people. 
• We are continuously building the company we all want to work for and our customers want to work with. Why? Because when we bring together diversity of thoughts, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives – we’re able to create a place where everyone feels like they belong. 

Job Responsibilities

Business Unit: Real World & Late Phase (RWLP)
Industry: Life Sciences
Location: Tokyo (Hybrid) | Remote options available

Position Overview

The Senior Research Associate, Real World Evidence (RWE) is part of the global Real World & Late Phase (RWLP) Business Unit and plays a key role in generating health economic and patient outcomes evidence across the drug development lifecycle.

In this role, you will execute and increasingly lead components of real-world evidence studies that inform clinical development, regulatory strategy, and market access decisions for life sciences clients. You will operate with a higher degree of autonomy than an entry-level associate and contribute to both project delivery and business development activities.

This position is well suited for professionals seeking to deepen their HEOR and RWE expertise while working within a collaborative, globally connected team that values technical rigor, professional growth, and sustainable performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality project outputs that meet scope, timeline, budget, and quality expectations.
• Conduct and critically appraise literature reviews and targeted secondary research to support RWE strategies.
• Design and conduct qualitative research activities, including patient interviews, and synthesize findings into structured insights.
• Contribute to proposal development, including drafting proposal sections and preparing bid defense materials to support new business acquisition.
• Develop and review key study documents and client deliverables, including:
  • Proposals
  • Study protocols
  • Statistical analysis plans (as applicable)
  • Technical reports
  • Manuscripts and scientific posters
  • Client presentations
• Summarize and interpret complex data sets into clear, client-ready outputs.
• Apply knowledge of retrospective and prospective real-world research methods.
• Leverage and experiment with emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance analytical efficiency, quality, and innovation in project delivery.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, public health, epidemiology, health sciences, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 2–3 years of relevant experience within the life sciences industry (e.g., HEOR, RWE, clinical research, pharmaceutical industry, healthcare consulting, or academia).
• Working knowledge of retrospective and prospective real-world research methodologies.
• Overall understanding of the drug development lifecycle.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience using statistical software (e.g., SAS, R, Stata, or similar).
• Business-level conversational English (written and spoken).

Preferred

• Graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated academic or industry research experience.
• Fluency in a regional language (Japanese, Chinese, or Korean).

Key Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within cross-functional global teams
• Attention to detail and commitment to scientific rigor
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities in a deadline-driven environment
• Intellectual curiosity and proactive approach to continuous improvement, including adoption of AI and digital tools
• Willingness to travel (approximately 10–20%)

Work Environment

As part of the global RWLP team, you will collaborate with international colleagues across therapeutic areas and functions. We offer a hybrid work model with flexibility, structured mentorship, and opportunities for increased responsibility and leadership over time.

Our culture emphasizes quality, accountability, and sustainable performance—supporting long-term career growth in the life sciences industry.

Get to know Syneos Health

Over the past 5 years, we have worked with 94% of all Novel FDA Approved Drugs, 95% of EMA Authorized Products and over 200 Studies across 73,000 Sites and 675,000+ Trial patients.

No matter what your role is, you’ll take the initiative and challenge the status quo with us in a highly competitive and ever-changing environment. Learn more about Syneos Health.

http://www.syneoshealth.com

Additional Information

Tasks, duties, and responsibilities as listed in this job description are not exhaustive.  The Company, at its sole discretion and with no prior notice, may assign other tasks, duties, and job responsibilities. Equivalent experience, skills, and/or education will also be considered so qualifications of incumbents may differ from those listed in the Job Description.  The Company, at its sole discretion, will determine what constitutes as equivalent to the qualifications described above.   Further, nothing contained herein should be construed to create an employment contract.  Occasionally, required skills/experiences for jobs are expressed in brief terms.  Any language contained herein is intended to fully comply with all obligations imposed by the legislation of each country in which it operates, including the implementation of the EU Equality Directive, in relation to the recruitment and employment of its employees.  The Company is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the provision of reasonable accommodations, when appropriate, to assist employees or applicants to perform the essential functions of the job.